Economic developments: agriculture, trade and industry; boom and 'workshop of the world'; onset of Depression
By the 1850s, Britain had become the world's dominant industrial and trading nation. From the 1870s, that dominance began to weaken as foreign competition and falling prices hit agriculture and industry.
Real World
The Great Exhibition of 1851, held in the Crystal Palace in Hyde Park, displayed over 100,000 industrial exhibits from Britain and the world — Britain's manufacturers filled half the exhibition space, demonstrating their dominance in iron, steel, and textiles to six million visitors.
Exam Focus
When explaining the Depression's onset, link falling prices to specific causes (US/German competition, cheap US grain) for full marks.
Essay Framework
Use PEEL to structure every paragraph. Tap each step for guidance and an example.
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